Newcastle star Jamaal Lascelles is to finally undergo hernia surgery after playing with the injury for most of this year. Manager Rafa Benitez had insisted on keeping the problem secret with only Newcastle’s medical staff aware of the situation during 2017.

Juan Mata is targeting the second leg of Manchester United’s Europa League quarter-final at home to Anderlecht a fortnight on Thursday for his comeback from a hernia operation, providing there are no setbacks during his recovery.

Researchers have identified an apparent cause of inguinal hernia, or groin hernia, in older men: altered sex hormone levels that weaken and scar muscle tissue in the lower abdomen. Results of their study using an animal model will be presented at ENDO 2017, the Endocrine Society’s 99th annual meeting in Orlando, Florida.